Chestnut Comparison Chart

Be aware that all chest nuts can
cross-pollinate, so that the chestnut you are trying to identify may
actually be a mix of two or more different types of chestnuts, known
as a hybrid.

We can attempt to identify your
chestnut if you re unable to do so by means of a leaf and twig sample.

Pleass press one or two fresh leaves
between cardboard with a 4-6 inch twig. Do no use plastic unless
it is perforated or the leaves will mold. Crushed and bent leaves will
not be in good enough condition to positively analyze.

Mail to:

TACF
P.O. Box 4044
Bennington, VT 05201

Taper to Stem

straight

curved

curved

curved

straight

Taper to Tip

Taper to Tip

straight

curved

curved

curved

straight

Teeth

Teeth

1-3 mm, small, sharp, no hook

Tiny, often only bristles, no hook

Big, sharp or rounded, no hook

Large or small, not pronounced or
hooked

6mm, big, sharp, and often curved
(hooked)

Underside

Underside

Sun leaves hairy

Many large dots (glands), sun leaves
hairy

Many small dots. Sun leaves hairy on
some specimens but not others

Sparse dots. Sun leaves hairy

Many small dots. Sun leaves not
hairy, long sparse hairs only on midrib.

Twig

Twig

Hairy tips, purple

Pink to light red, large white
lenticels.

Stout, dark, brown, small white
lenticels

Hairy tips, Tan to pea green. Large
elliptical yellow lenticels

Slender, smooth, hairless reddish
brown, small white lenticels

Bud

Bud

3mm, downy dark red, pointed, longer
than whide, sticks out from stem

Gloosy brown, As long as it is wide
(rounded)

Dark red, fat and globular

Hairy, tan, dull brown to black
rounded and flat aginst stem

Long 6mm smooth, reddish brown,
pointed, or longer than it is wide, sticks out from stem.